Vulnerable lose out on benefits

WHILE PRIVILEGED MPs and City fat cat bankers appear to have public funds coming out of their ears, millions of low paid workers are missing out on their entitlement to tax credits and housing benefit, amounting to a staggering £16 billion a year.

According to many charities, four out of five low paid workers (1.2 billion households) are failing to claim tax credits worth at least £38 a week and half of working households did not claim their entitlement to housing benefit worth an average of £37.60 a week.

In addition up to three million households are thought to be missing out on council tax benefits and 1.7 million pensioners are not claiming pensions credit.

In a letter to Work and Pensions secretary Yvette Cooper, 27 charities have demanded government action to ensure that those in greatest need get what they are entitled to.

Ms Cooper ought to know about claiming entitlements. Along with her partner, cabinet member Ed Balls MP, she 'flipped' the designation of their second home to three different properties within the space of two years 'entitling' her to £24,400.

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Coronavirus crisis - Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

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When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

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